Distress call emitting device

• US 6,084,525 A
• Filed: 05/14/1998
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Alpha Tsushin
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Alpha Tsushin
• Inventors: Kimura, Nobuo, Kaga, Masayuki, Toyota, Katsunori
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN III, GLEN R
• Application Number:
  US09/079,975
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 340/689, 340/690, 340/692, 340/693.5, 340/693.6, 340/574, 340/539, 340/531, 340/533, 340/540
• US Class Current: 340/690
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

The distress call emitting device comprises an earthquake sensor for detecting an earthquake of a prescribed intensity or greater and/or a receiver for receiving a radio signal from a remote transmitter. Therefore, even when the user is unable to call for a help, the distress call emitting device of the present invention produces a distress call in his behalf by sound and/or light. The distress call can be initiated either by detecting the intensity of the earthquake or by operating a remote transmitter which may be carried by the user. If the device is linked to a telephone line, the distress call can be made also through a telephone line. Thus, even when the user is too weak to call for a help by his own effort, the device is either automatically activated by an earthquake or remotely activated by pressing a switch on a portable transmitter.

Claims

1. A distress call emitting device adapted to be installed outside a room or a house occupied by a person who may require a rescue effort comprising:

an alarm unit for emitting a distress message by sound and/or light;

alarm triggering means including a radio receiver for receiving a radio signal from a remote transmitter, said alarm triggering means capable of generating a command signal in response to the received radio signal;

a controller for activating said alarm unit upon receiving the command signal from said alarm triggering means; and

a battery power source for powering said alarm unit, said alarm triggering means, and said controller,

said remote transmitter being of a wristwatch type configured to be worn on a wrist of a user.

2. A distress call emitting device according to claim 1, wherein said alarm unit further comprises an automatic telephoning unit for making a call to a designated party and announcing a prescribed message by speech when activated by said controller.

3. A distress call emitting device according to claim 2, wherein said automatic telephoning unit is provided separately from a main body including the alarm unit, the alarm triggering means, and the controller, and is provided with another receiver adapted to receive a radio signal from said transmitter.

4. A distress call emitting device according to claim 2, wherein said prescribed message is produced by synthesized speech.

5. A distress call emitting device according to claim 2, wherein said prescribed message comprises at least one of the name and address of the person who may require a rescue effort.

6. A distress call emitting device according to claim 1, wherein said distress message is produced by synthesized speech.

7. A distress call emitting device according to claim 1, wherein said distress message comprises at least one of the name and address of the person who may require the rescue effort.

8. A distress call emitting device adapted to be installed outside a room or a house occupied by a person who may require a rescue effort comprising:

an alarm unit for emitting a distress message by speech, sound and/or light;

alarm triggering means including a radio receiver for receiving a radio signal from a remote transmitter, said alarm triggering means capable of generating a command signal in response to the received radio signal;

a controller for activating said alarm unit upon receiving the command signal from said alarm triggering means; and

a battery power source for powering said alarm unit, said alarm triggering means, and said controller,

wherein said alarm triggering means further comprises an earthquake sensor for detecting an earthquake having a prescribed intensity or greater,

said remote transmitter being of a wristwatch type configured to be worn on a wrist of a user, said alarm triggering means being capable of generating the command signal upon detection of the earthquake.

9. A distress call emitting device according to claim 8, wherein said earthquake sensor is based on detection of acceleration, and can additionally detect a tilting of the device.

10. A distress call emitting device according to claim 9, further comprising a level gauge for allowing the device to be installed horizontally.